Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-25


have read with Interest tn. STARS discussion
Of the geography question and the explanatory
report OF the school board which II called out.
The reasons for change OF text books were thus
given several months after the change was MADE
Under the Old adage, "better late than never
these reasons may be received and considered
The report states that the text OF the Old books
The only errors specned outside OF those relating
swSse.,ns Was stated 10 81 the espi s Of West
arizona" have not The latest edition Of the Old
statement, and therefore pass it with the remark
that these capitals were all VIGOROUSLY ION
wneels" ior several years past ana II was very
The greater portion OF the report treats of the
should commend the new book TO favor. Referring
to the text on that subject In the old book, the re
port says: "By that text the children OF our
District at present u governed by Congress d.
rectiy through committee on the District OF Co
,nmoia, while Georgetown was referred 10 as
being place OF suburban residence" 1t also
adds that the new books state thechaIacter OF the
District government accurately.
the accurate statement In the new books that athe
government OF the District Is vested In board
OF three Commissioners, appointed by C0ngresa y
political government includes three distinct de-
partments the legislative, executive and the judi
cial Have these indeed all been consolidated and
actually or virtually vested In the board OF Com
missioners? The trainers OF the Constitution un-
douotedly thought eney had vested the govern
ment OF the District exclusively In Congress when
they provided In that instrument IS follows: 1.-THE
Congress shall have power to exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases whatsoever over such On
But leaving this question open for discussion,
It must be conceded at least that the board OF
Commissioners is not appointed on Congress.
trustees it would appear that the omission Of the
commissioners was the fatal error In the old
book. 1t Is said that at the recent examination
OF the schools by the Commissioner and the super.
intendenL the question asked was: "Ch1ldren, how
is the District Of Columbia governedf" The
answer came BACK IN swelnng chorus; rus. Ky tne
In better condition" and the examiners passed on.
by the text OF the new books the children are IN
inTion. having recently been INCORPORATED with
1t, and yet this same text everywhere else treats
OF the former as separate city, and Indirectly
Georgetown exclusively that It is ''noted for its
refined society"
In the llst q public buildings and monuments
statues are omitted. The state, War and Navy
Department Is designated the Estate Depart
In the s q sns chief
and the Homeopathic Hospital are ignored while
the United States soldiers and Sailors Orphan
Asylum" an institution that ceased to exist and
several years ago. is named.
In the description OF the Treasury Department
the children are informed that "a striking feature
OF this edice IL presented by an unbroh en- tine OF
thirty Ionic columns said TO be the largest Of the
kind in the woridD on the pest 'front.'" The chill
dren will look In vain for this striking feature on
the west front, but they may md on the east
front q row OF thirty columns, though hardy
coming up to the description given above; IN fact,
II Is understood to be the design OF the architects
70 reconstruct this mont. and make It harmonize
with the improved architecture OF the newer por-
tons OF the building.
In the DESCRIPTION OF the Corcoran Art Gallery,
they are informed that this ediilce is one OF the
structed at an expense OF $500, 600" Finest, as
used here, Is word OF indefinite and unSattsfac-
tory meaning, and as matter OF fact the build ne
and its site cost only $780, 600. he fact that the
gallery has munlncent permanent endowment Of
more than 81, OOO, GEO. yielding an annual income
OF more than 10000, is not mentioned. They are
informed that "Lhe Senate Chamber the Hail OF the
Court are the three principal divisions OF the cap
itOl." What becomes OF the rOtunda and the DON'T:
They are also informed that ga library, museum
sonion institution, We hardly think Prof. Henry
would have endorsed this statement
In the small book the population OF Washington
Is given as Ia, 307; In the large one as Ia, 2o3
Neither statement satisfies the ambitious Wash.
The report says: 'sWe are Informed that the new
books have aroused new interest among the pupils
IN the study Of Tas Is probably
hunting for the ''market-h0use" In Mount Vernon
square, which they ind represented there in theil
new map OF the District, but which, the legend
1t also says That ''any unprejudiced person viii
admit that these books are vast improvement or
the Old ones which were In USE" II necessarily
follows that all persons who do not admit this art
prejudieed.
Other features of these new books are reserved
for future discussion. CuI BONO.